<![CDATA[Idaho Bluegrass Association - Beginner Jam]]>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 07:29:33 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[No blog posts until November]]>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 14:20:47 GMThttps://www.idahobluegrassassociation.org/beginner-jam/no-blog-posts-until-novemberThis blog post will not be updated until November - sorry.
​But the jams are happening weekly.
If you are interested in helping to post Jason's emails, please contact: webmaster@idahobluegrassassociation.org after November 1]]><![CDATA[I'll Fly Away]]>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.idahobluegrassassociation.org/beginner-jam/ill-fly-away9128156Hi everyone,
Dan will be leading the beginner jam this coming Tuesday (Oct. 6).
The song of the week is 'I'll Fly Away' in the key of A. 


​Recordings
Del McCoury Band - key of Bb
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOAmHrzE8v4

Alison Krauss & Gillian Welch - key of D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz-0C2dhKlg

Jason Homey & The Snake River Boys - key of G (starts at 12:37)
Jason Homey and the Snake River Boys, IBA Open Mic, 4/23/19 - YouTube


Jam Videos
Jason Homey - key of A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHV9QIqV6bc

Jason Homey - key of G
Jason’s YouTube Links – Alphabetical Listing – Parisology (cyberplasm.com)

Janene Thomas - key of C
I’ll Fly Away [C] - YouTube


Progression 
1111
4411
1111
1511
(Progression V3 on the Basic Chord Progressions handout.)

In the key of G: 1=G, 4=C, 5=D
In the key of A: 1=G, 4=D, 5=E
In the key of Bb: 1=Bb, 4=Eb, 5=F
In the key of C: 1=C, 4=F, 5=G
In the key of D: 1=D, 4=G, 5=A


Song List
16 songs were played at the jam last night: 11 from the main list, 4 from the additional songs list, and 1 that is on neither list
Boil The Cabbage Down - A
Buffalo Gals - A
Down The Road - A
Foggy Mountain Top - A
I'll Fly Away - G
Little Birdie - D
A Memory Of You (played twice) - C & D
My Home's Across The Blue Ridge Mountains - C
New River Train - A
Shortnin' Bread - G
You Are My Sunshine - B
Leaning On The Everlasting Arms - A
O Susanna - A
Will The Circle Be Unbroken - G
Worried Man Blues - D
Whiskey Before Breakfast - D

Happy Pickin',
Jason

Files:
BBJ - I'll Fly Away - Lyric sheet
Download Fileee
BBJ - I'll Fly Away - banjo tab (G+2=A)
File Size: 720 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
BBJ - I'll Fly Away - guitar tab (G+2=A)
File Size: 771 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
BBJ - I'll Fly Away - mandolin tab (A)
File Size: 654 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
bbj_-_ill_fly_away_-_melody_in_a.pdf
File Size: 766 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
]]><![CDATA[A Memory Of You]]>Wed, 23 Sep 2026 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.idahobluegrassassociation.org/beginner-jam/a-memory-of-you7795612Hi everyone,
Barb will be leading the beginner jam this coming Tuesday (Sept. 29).
The song of the week is 'A Memory Of You' in the key of D.


Recordings
Jim & Jesse - key of A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebC9IQNkj7E

Bobby Hicks and Friends - key of B 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLppdfvyW1c

Jason Homey & The Snake River Boys - key of A
A memory of you - Jason Homey and the Snake River Boys - YouTube


Jam Videos
Janene Thomas - key of D
A Memory of You [D] - YouTube

Jason Homey - keys of A & B
Jason’s YouTube Links – Alphabetical Listing – Parisology (cyberplasm.com)


Progression 
1144
1155
1144
1511
(Prog. V7 on the Basic Chord Progressions handout)

In the key of G: 1=G, 4=C, 5=D
In the key of A: 1=A, 4=D, 5=E
In the key of B: 1=B, 4=E, 5=F#
In the key of C: 1=C, 4=F, 5=G
In the key of D: 1=D, 4=G, 5=A


Melody 
Singers should observe that the melody for the chorus differs from the melody of the verses in measures 2 through 5. In these 4 measures, where the verse melody descends, the chorus melody ascends, and vice versa. 

In the attachments, I have given the melody for the chorus rather than for the verses, because it feels to me more intuitive to use the chorus melody of 'A Memory Of You' as the point of reference for creating melody-based breaks, even though with most songs, one would typically use the melody for the verses rather than the melody for the chorus as the point of reference for creating melody based breaks when the chorus and verse melodies differ from each other.


Song List
15 songs were played at last night's jam: 10 from the main list, 4 from the additional songs list, and 1 that is on neither list:

All The Good Times Are Past And Gone - A
Boil The Cabbage Down - A
Buffalo Gals - A
Cripple Creek (played twice) - A
Hand Me Down My Walking Cane - G
I'll Fly Away - G
Little Birdie - B
She'll Be Coming 'Round The Mountain - G
Shortnin' Bread - A
You Are My Sunshine - Bb
Clinch Mountain Backstep - A
Liberty - D
Mountain Dew - A
Sweetheart, You Done Me Wrong - F
Whiskey Before Breakfast - D

Happy Pickin',
Jason

Files:
BBJ - A Memory Of You - banjo tab (C+2=D)
Download File

BBJ - A Memory Of You - guitar tab (D)
Download File

BBJ - A Memory Of You - guitar tab (low D)
Download File

BBJ - A Memory Of You - guitar tab (C+2=D)
Download File

BBJ - A Memory Of You - guitar tab (low C+2=D)
Download File

BBJ - A Memory Of You - mandolin tab (D)
Download File

BBJ - A Memory Of You - melody in D
Download File

BBJ - A Memory Of You - lyric cheat sheet
Download File
]]><![CDATA[Little Birdie]]>Fri, 18 Sep 2026 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.idahobluegrassassociation.org/beginner-jam/little-birdieHi everyone,
The song of the week is 'Little Birdie' in the key of B.

​
Recordings
Red Smiley - key of A
Little Birdie - YouTube

Jason Homey & The Snake River Boys - key of Bb (song starts at 15:55)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJAtP8irWYs  

The Stanley Brothers - key of Eb
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sakr_M1KMaM

Lonesome River Band - key of B
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaQXT-sgtOg


Jam Videos
Key of B
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pLXMhXJMpA

Keys of Bb & C
Jason’s YouTube Links – Alphabetical Listing – Parisology (cyberplasm.com)


Progression
1155
5511
1155
5511

In the key of G: 1 = G, 5 = D 
In the key of A: 1 = A; 5 = E
In the key of Bb: 1 = Bb; 5 = F 
In the key of B: 1 = B; 5 = F#
In the key of C: 1 = C; 5 = G
In the key of Eb: 1 = Eb; 5 = Bb


Attachments
In addition to the melody sheets, I have included in the attachments a lyric cheat sheet for the four verses that I sing for Little Birdie. Since three of the verses start the same way ('Little birdie, little birdie'), and the first and fourth verses have identical first halves, the lyric cheat sheet does not give the first words of each verse (except for the second verse, for that one begins differently than the other verses), but rather the first words that distinguish each verse from the other three verses.


Song List
19 songs were played at last night's jam: 13 from the main list, 4 from the additional songs list, and 2 that are on neither list:

Beautiful Brown Eyes - C
Boil The Cabbage Down - A
Buffalo Gals - D
Bury Me Beneath The Willow - A
Cripple Creek - A
Down The Road - A
Foggy Mountain Top - A
Hand Me Down My Walking Cane - G
I'll Fly Away - D
Light At The River - D
A Memory Of You - A
Nine Pound Hammer - B
Shortnin' Bread - A
Blue Ridge Cabin Home - A
Clinch Mountain Backstep - A
Liberty - D
Sweetheart, You Done Me Wrong - C
Dooley - A
Wildwood Flower - C

Happy Pickin',
Jason

Files:
​Little Birdie - lyric cheat sheet
Download File
BBJ - Little Birdie - banjo tab (G+4=B)
File Size: 733 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
BBJ - Little Birdie - guitar tab (G+4=B)
File Size: 762 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
BBJ - Little Birdie - mandolin tab (B)
File Size: 641 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
BBJ - Little Birdie - melody in B
File Size: 941 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
]]><![CDATA[Cripple Creek]]>Mon, 14 Sep 2026 11:38:36 GMThttps://www.idahobluegrassassociation.org/beginner-jam/cripple-creek2721149Hi everyone,
The song of the week is 'Cripple Creek' in the key of A.

​
Recordings
Flatt and Scruggs, key of A (the instruments are tuned a little bit sharp):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4sqishGuYw

Butch Robins with Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys: key of A 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLZuYpXXgAs

Jason Homey & The Snake River Boys: key of A (starts at 8:31)
Jason Homey and the Snake River Boys, IBA Open Mic, 6_25_19 - YouTube


Jam Videos
Jason Homey - key of A
Jason’s YouTube Links – Alphabetical Listing – Parisology (cyberplasm.com)


Progression
A-Part:
1    4/1    1    5/1  

B-Part:
1     1      1     5/1 
In the key of A: 1=A, 4=D, 5=E. 
In the key of G: 1=G, 4=C, 5=D.


Attachments
Each melody sheet in the attachments has two versions of Cripple Creek on it. The version at the top of the page is the melody as I would hum or sing it. With the exception of the banjo tab sheet, the version at the bottom of each page is a more elaborate interpretation of the melody of Cripple Creek, and makes for more interesting breaks on fiddle, mandolin and guitar. On the banjo tab sheet, the version of Cripple Creek at the bottom of the page is not a more elaborate version of the melody, but is rather a Scruggs-style break that is based upon the basic version of the melody. 

In addition to the melody sheets, I have also included in the attachments a sheet of 8 Potato Intros for starting the tune, and a sheet of Double Ending for finishing the tune. It is important to remember that any pickup notes that you play for your intro break for Cripple Creek (that is, notes that occur before the first full measure of the A Part) must be included within the last measure of the four measures that the 8 potato intro consists of. It does not work to play 4 full measures of 8 potato intro and then the pickup notes. For instance, if you are using two 8th notes as pickups into the A Part for your intro break for Cripple Creek, you must substitute those two 8th notes in place of the last quarter of the measure of the 8 potato intro, so that your first full measure of the A Part starts exactly eight beats after the start of the 8 potato intro. 


Song List
16 songs were played at last night's jam: 8 from the main list, 5 from the additional songs list, and 3 that are on neither list:

Boil The Cabbage Down - A
Buffalo Gals - A
Bury Me Beneath The Willow - A
Cripple Creek - A
Foggy Mountain Top - A
I'll Fly Away - A
New River Train - A
Nine Pound Hammer - B
Clinch Mountain Backstep - A
In The Pines - C
Old Joe Clark - A
Soldier's Joy - D
This Little Light Of Mine - G
Dooley - D
White Freightliner - C
Y'all Come - E

Happy Pickin',
Jason

​
​Sheet Music:
Cripple Creek - melody in A
Download File

Cripple Creek - mandolin tab
Download File

Cripple Creek - guitar tab
Download File

Cripple Creek - banjo tab
Download File

8 Potato Intro in A
Download File

Double Endings in A
Download File
]]><![CDATA[Nine Pound Hammer]]>Wed, 02 Sep 2026 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.idahobluegrassassociation.org/beginner-jam/nine-pound-hammer8883552Hi everyone,
The song of the week is 'Nine Pound Hammer' in the key of B.

Recordings 
Lonesome River Band - key of B
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tNA13W2cds

Tony Rice - key of A 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u964a0f38s

Jason Homey & The Snake River Boys - key of B. (The song starts at the 8:27 mark in the video):
Jason Homey and the Snake River Boys, IBA Open Mic, 2/26/19 - YouTube


Jam Videos
Jason’s YouTube Links – Alphabetical Listing – Parisology (cyberplasm.com)


Progression 
1144
1511

In the key of B: 1=B, 4=E, 5=F#.
In the key of A: 1=A, 4=D, 5=E.
In the key of G: 1=G, 4=C, 5=D.

Happy Pickin',
Jason


Files:
Nine Pound Hammer - banjo tab in B
Download File

Nine Pound Hammer - guitar tab in B
Download File

Nine Pound Hammer - mandolin tab in B
Download File

Nine Pound Hammer - melody in B
Download File

Nine Pound Hammer - lyric cheat sheet
Download File
]]><![CDATA[IBA Beginner Bluegrass Jam]]>Tue, 01 Sep 2026 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.idahobluegrassassociation.org/beginner-jam/iba-beginner-bluegrass-jamHi everyone,
I hope that you have had a good Summer.

Cahill will resume leading the weekly IBA Beginner Bluegrass Jam on Tuesday, Sept. 8th. (6:30 - 8:45pm at the Clairvoyant:  2800 W Idaho St Boise, ID 83702)

In the attachments are two new song lists that replace the song lists that were used for the jam before Summer break. Also in the attachments are the Basic Chord Progressions chart that the lists are keyed to, and a Number System and Capo chart handout.

For each of the songs with vocals, two keys are placed in parentheses. The purpose of this is not to dictate what key individual singers should sing the songs in, but to be a guide for choosing a key appropriate for one's voice and for the style of the music. For the men: start with the key that is listed first, and then from there, gradually lower or gradually raise the key to find which key works best for you to sing the song in. (But, in general, for the men, the higher the better, for the style of music.) For the women: start with the key that is listed second, and then from there, gradually lower or gradually raise the key to find which key works best for you to sing the song in. (But, in general, for the women, try not to raise the key very much higher: once again, keeping in mind the style of music we are dealing with here.)

Files:
Basic Chord Progressions Chart.pdf
Download File

Number System Chart.pdf
Download File
BBJ - Sept-Nov 2026 - MAIN LIST
File Size: 742 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
BBJ - Sept-Nov 2026 - Additional Songs
File Size: 859 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
]]><![CDATA[The jams will resume in September]]>Fri, 26 Jun 2026 21:41:29 GMThttps://www.idahobluegrassassociation.org/beginner-jam/the-jams-will-resume-in-septemberHi everyone,
The jams will resume in September. 

Over the Summer, in place of the weekly public jams, I encourage you, the jammers, to arrange your own small private jams with people from the public jams that you would like to do some more playing with. 
]]><![CDATA[Sweetheart, You Done Me Wrong]]>Wed, 13 May 2026 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.idahobluegrassassociation.org/beginner-jam/sweetheart-you-done-me-wrong6577973Hi everyone,
This coming Tuesday (May 19th) will be the last Beginner Bluegrass Jam at the Clairvoyant before Summer break. The jams will resume in September. 

Over the Summer, in place of the weekly public jams, I encourage you, the jammers, to arrange your own small private jams with people from the public jams that you would like to do some more playing with. 

The song of the week is 'Sweetheart, You Done Me Wrong' in the key of D. 


Recordings
Bill Monroe - key of D
Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys - Sweetheart, You Done Me Wrong (youtube.com)

Jason Homey & The Snake River Boys: key of C (starts at 8:15)
Jason Homey and The Snake River Boys, IBA Open Mic, 2_24_20 - YouTube


Jam Videos
Keys of C and D.
Jason’s YouTube Links – Alphabetical Listing – Parisology (cyberplasm.com)


Progression
1144
5511
1144
5511
(Prog. W8 on the Basic Chord Progressions chart.)
In the key of C: 1=C, 4=F, 5=G.
In the key of D: 1=D, 4=G, 5=A


Song List
15 songs were played at last night's jam: 10 from the main list, 4 from the additional songs list, and 1 that is on neither list:

Before I Met You - A
Buffalo Gals - A
Foggy Mountain Top - A
Hand Me Down My Walking Cane - A
Long Journey Home - A
New River Train - D
Sweetheart, You Done Me Wrong - C
This Little Light Of Mine - Bb
When The Saints Go Marching In - F
You Are My Sunshine - A
Blue Ridge Cabin Home - D
Boil The Cabbage Down - A
I'll Fly Away - A
I'm Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes - A
Dooley - A

Happy Pickin',
Jason

Files:
Sweetheart You Done Me Wrong - banjo tab
Download File

Sweetheart You Done Me Wrong - guitar tab 1
Download File

Sweetheart You Done Me Wrong - guitar tab 2
Download File

Sweetheart You Done Me Wrong - mandolin tab
Download File

Sweetheart You Done Me Wrong - melody in D
Download File

BBJ - Sweetheart, You Done Me Wrong - lyric cheat sheet.pdf
Download File]]><![CDATA[This Little Light Of Mine]]>Wed, 06 May 2026 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.idahobluegrassassociation.org/beginner-jam/this-little-light-of-mine4270629Hi everyone,
The song of the week is 'This Little Light Of Mine' in the key of Bb.

​
Recordings
Ralph Stanley - key of B
This Little Light Of Mine - YouTube

Randall Franks - key of A
Bluegrass Gospel - This Little Light of Mine - Randall Franks & David Davis and WRB.mpg - YouTube


Jam Videos
Key of Bb
This Little Light Of Mine Jam Video - Jason Homey

Keys of A & B
Jason’s YouTube Links – Alphabetical Listing – Parisology


Progression
1111
4441
1111
1511
In the key of B: 1=B, 4=E, 5=F#
In the key of Bb: 1=Bb, 4=Eb, 5=F
In the key of A: 1=A, 4=D, 5=E
In the key of G: 1=G, 4=C, 5=D


Song List
17 songs were played at last night's jam, 11 from the main list, and 6 from the additional songs list:

Buffalo Gals - A
Canaan's Land - Bb
Hand Me Down My Walking Cane - A
In The Pines 
Light At The River - Bb
Long Journey Home - A
New River Train - F
This Little Light Of Mine - C
Way Down Town - D
When The Saints Go Marching In - F
You Are My Sunshine - E
Boil The Cabbage Down - A
Bury Me Beneath The Willow - A
Cripple Creek - G
Gathering Flowers From The Hillside - A
I'll Fly Away - A
Soldier's Joy - D

Happy Pickin',
Jason

FIles:
BBJ - This Little Light Of Mine - banjo tab (G+3=Bb).pdf
Download File

BBJ - This Little Light Of Mine - guitar tab (G+3=Bb).pdf
Download File

BBJ - This Little Light Of Mine - mandolin tab (Bb).pdf
Download File

BBJ - This Little Light Of Mine - melody in Bb.pdf
Download File

BBJ - This Little Light Of Mine - lyric cheat sheet.pdf
Download File
]]>